taffe Posted October 16, 2015 Report Share Posted October 16, 2015 Hi all, I just thought I would share this story as it may help other Pro owner out there. About a year ago I traded my Sherco 125 in for a Gas Gas Pro 250, a great move I thought, that was until I tried to start it. Anyway long story short. Dealer says " it's all technique mate', so I worked on my technique until I could get it started. But I still thought that 5 to 8 or more kicks standing on a crate or leaning against a tree [as per the Gas Gas starting procedure video was too draining on a 35deg day. So next was to change the carbie to a flat slide, and set it up, now that's better, five kicks max, but that's most of the time, not good enough, but I put up with that for about ten months. At times I was so knackered from kicking I had mates come over to give it a go, Beta and Sherco riders battled because they did not have the "technique", apparently you don't need a lot of "technique" to start their bikes. Whereas many riders need a tree handy just to stand their bikes up I needed one to be able start the mine, but not any more, it seems, I fitted flywheel weights. Now I get a smoother ride and starting I could only dream of before. No tree, no box, No need for mates [well there is really] no swearing and I can start the bike in my sandals, instead of pulling on a boot in the workshop. I still use the "technique" but first kick starts are now much more frequent if not the norm. Started first kick after a week in the shed, first kick off the ute, first kick after the bike being upside down on a hill for 2-3 minute, until I got back up to it. Gotta be happy with that! Cheers Taff 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topline620 Posted October 16, 2015 Report Share Posted October 16, 2015 I always struggled to start my Pro 300 when cold till I found out no throttle was the way to go,now no problems warm or cold Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toetoe Posted October 16, 2015 Report Share Posted October 16, 2015 Iv not really had a problem with technique but slowly it would take more and more kicks to get my 250 pro to start, i changed the plug and made sure the gap was right and it was an instant cure, sometimes the spark can look quite good but it's not as strong as it should be, first kick most of the time, no more than two kicks every time and thats just standing with one foot on the ground, not leaning the bike on a tree or a wall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mung Posted October 18, 2015 Report Share Posted October 18, 2015 If the slide gets pulled up it defeats the choke. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taffe Posted October 18, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2015 I had to give the pro a fistful at the time of kicking or no go. I know what the problem has been most of the time, it's my right leg, I can't get a fast enough prod on the lever to turn the motor over fully due to the short rotation of the said lever. I did not mention that, that leg is pushing 74 years old (so is the rest of what it's attached to) so getting up over the bike for a swift kick has been my problem. I had moved the kick lever forwards to increase the rotation, and that helped heaps. Today, another enjoyable ride with first kick starts. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nigel dabster Posted October 18, 2015 Report Share Posted October 18, 2015 Be careful with that i think it might cause a problem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan williams Posted October 18, 2015 Report Share Posted October 18, 2015 I've never been able to start a GasGas and it always felt to me like there just wasn't enough energy stored from the kick to get it fired easily. Very interesting that a flywheel weight makes that much difference. As for 74, I regularly get my ass handed to me at events by guys in their 60s and 70s. I keep telling them I want to ride like them when I grow up. They just laugh. As they have for the 30 years I've been riding with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sectionone Posted October 19, 2015 Report Share Posted October 19, 2015 I had to give the pro a fistful at the time of kicking or no go. I know what the problem has been most of the time, it's my right leg, I can't get a fast enough prod on the lever to turn the motor over fully due to the short rotation of the said lever. I did not mention that, that leg is pushing 74 years old (so is the rest of what it's attached to) so getting up over the bike for a swift kick has been my problem. I had moved the kick lever forwards to increase the rotation, and that helped heaps. Today, another enjoyable ride with first kick starts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taffe Posted October 20, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 20, 2015 If you move the kick lever from its original position, you are more likely to break off teeth on the kickstart gear and idler gear, which is already easy to do in the proper position without proper technique. Hi, Thanks for the advice. I cant understand how changing the position of the boot at the start of the kick, on the outside of the gear box, can effect the meshing of gears on the inside. Is it that it allows too much movement [rotation] of the lever? Is the foot peg meant to limit this movement? Any more info? In my search prior to doing that mod it kept coming up as a fix. Cheers Taff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sectionone Posted October 22, 2015 Report Share Posted October 22, 2015 The kicker is meant to hit the peg so I wouldn't move it from the original position. I always stand on the pegs when kick starting by leaning on a tree or having my left foot on a rock or log. If you take someone who rides japanese enduro/mx bikes and put him on a GG pro, he will repeatedly jam down hard on the kicker and chip the internal gears then it will bind up and on the next hard kick the case will break apart. You need to start out gentle and make sure the kick gear is engaged and give a swift kick standing on the pegs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baldilocks Posted October 22, 2015 Report Share Posted October 22, 2015 The kick start gears need to be engaged before any great force is applied. If its not engaged properly you can chip a tooth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taffe Posted October 23, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2015 Ok, thanks guys. Looks like I'll be ok as I've always practiced the techniques mentioned. The other week before my modifications the Pro would not start and my mate [ex dirt bike rider]came over and offered to kick for me. Well I watched three of the kicks he gave it and politely said thanks and pushed the bike to the nearest tree and with one well prepared kick she started. Cheers Taff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
talbotvanman Posted November 14, 2015 Report Share Posted November 14, 2015 Just got a Gas Gas 125 (2012) First ride out today and so much easier to kick over than my old 1980s Montesa. I had to get rid of that as at 82 next birthday it was just to heavy for me !! Now my 125 likes plenty of throttle when starting hot but choke only from cold.My son is much happier now that he doesnt have to hang around in case my legs give out from trying to get my bike started !!! Mind it was him that got me riding again after 35 years. Bye the way what happened to the old over 45s class Or better still for me over 65s ? lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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